Island



(No Model.) I

O.A.K ONZ. TRACK AND SWITCH FOR BEEP HOUSES.

N0. 595,314 Patented Dec. 14, 1897.

all f Q NiTn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. KONZ, OF PROVIDENCE, RI'IODE ISLAND.

TRACK AND SWITCH FOR BEEF-'HOUSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,314, dated December14, 1897. Application filed February 5, 1897. Serial No. 622,193. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. KONZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tracks andSwitches for Beef-Houses and the Like, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in switches forconveyer-tracks for beef and like houses, and has for its ob ject toprovide a simple, durable, and efficient mechanism by which the carriermay be switched from the main rail to a number of branch rails forconveying the load to the desired locality without the necessity of theoperator lifting or sustaining, the weight of the load at any time; anda further object of my invention is to bring about this result by theoperation of a single lever projecting within easy reach of an operator.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and thenspecificallydesignated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detaihreferring to theaccompanying drawing, in which is shown a perspective view of myimprovement looking at it from the side, said drawing forming a part ofthis specification, in which A represents the main rail, supported bysuitable hangers B, (one of which is shown,) and at the terminating endof this rail is hinged the switch-rail C, as indicated at D. Thisswitch-rail has pivoted thereto at E a section F, adapted to be swungupward, as indicated in dotted lines, and this section is supported whenin position by the togglejointed lever G, the upperend of which issecured to the shipper-rod H. The free end of the section F is adaptedto fit within and be supported by the clip-socket I, as clearly shown,each of the clips being suspended by one of the hangers J, which aresecured to the ceiling or other convenient surface. The clips I alsoserve as a support for the branch rails K, and these rails pass to anysuitable locality when it is desired to convey the load at differenttimes, from which arrangement it will be seen that the load supported bythe carrier L, when being conveyed from the main rail to one of thebranch rails, will pass over the switch 0, and the pivoted section Fthereof to the branch rail with which the lastnamed section is inconjunction. It is therefore only necessary, when it is desired totransfer the load to any particular branch rail, to shift the switch insuch manner that the outer end of the section F enters into c0njunctionwith the desired branch rail, and this is accomplished in the followingmanner:

The shipper-rod to which the toggle-jointed lever G is secured is fittedwithin the hangers M in such manner that it may be revolved in itsbearings and moved lengthwise therein, and a lever N is secured to thisrod and projects downward within easy reach of an operator, so that whenthe switch is to be changed from one branch rail to another it is onlynecessary to grasp the lever N and move it to the position shown indotted lines, which will so operate the toggle-jointed lever G as toelevate the section F, when by moving the lever N sidewise theshipper-rod will be likewise moved, causing the switch to swing to thedesired position in alinement with one of the branch rails. Now it isonly necessary to swing the lever N from the position shown in dottedlines to the position shown in full lines to cause the section F to alsoswing downward from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown infull lines and enter into conjunction with the desired branch rail,after which the carrier may convey its load across the switch and ontothe branch rail.

In practice my invention has proved to be of great value, since it notonly saves the operator from lifting and straining in the trans fer ofheavy loads, but it also greatly increases the amount of work which canbe performed in a given time, since the switch may be changed from onebranch track to another in the shortest possible time and without undueexertion on the part of the operator.

While my improvement is well adapted for use in beef-houses and the likeit is obvious that it may be used for a variety of purposes where it isnecessary to convey loads from a main to a number of branch tracks.

Having thus fully described this invention what is claimed as new anduseful is- 1. A conveyer switch, consisting of a hinged section, asection pivoted thereto, and means for elevating the last-named sectionand swinging the two sections, as specified.

2. In combination, a main rail, a number of branch rails, a switch-railhinged to the main rail, a section pivoted to the switch-rail, socketsfor receiving the end of the pivoted section, so as to cause it to alinewith the branch rails, and atoggle-joint adapted to elevate the free endof the pivoted section as it is swung into alinement with either of thebranch rails, as specified.

3. In combination, a main rail, a number of branch rails, a switch-railhinged to the main rail, a section pivoted to the switch-rail,

sockets for the reception of the free end of said section, atoggle-jointed lever connected to said pivoted section, a rod to whichthe upper end of said lever is secured, and an operating-lever alsosecured to the rod and adapted to swing it upon its axis to move itlengthwise, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

4. In a conveyer, a number of branch rails, a main rail, a switch-railhinged thereto to swing into alinement with the branch rails, 21 sectionpivoted to the switch-rail, and means for holding the section inalinement with the branch rails, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresenceof two subscribing witnesses.

OHARLES A. KONZ.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, J. F. FURLONG.

